Working with animals in a research setting can present many different hazards. Common hazards by species and setting are included below. For additional helpful guidance related to animal research hazards, view the zoonotic diseases in pregnancy, animal bite or scratch, and animal allergens pages.
Working with animals in a research setting can present many different hazards. Below are the different species that may be worked with and the different risks they could have including physical risks, development of allergies, and zoonotic disease risks.
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Mice
Physical Risks: Bites
Allergies: May develop from exposure to mouse urine and fur
Zoonotic Risks: Click on the links to learn more about specific diseases
Rats
Physical Risks: Bites (tend to bite when startled or when in pain); Scratches (from teeth or long toe nails)
Allergies: May develop after prolonged, repeated contact.
Zoonotic Risks: Click on the links to learn more about specific diseases
Hamsters
Physical Risks: Bites (tend to bite when startled from sleep or when in pain)
Allergies:May develop after prolonged, repeated contact.
Zoonotic Risks: Click on the links to learn more about specific diseases
Gerbils
Physical Risks: Bites (not typically biters)
Allergies: May develop after prolonged, repeated contact.
Zoonotic Risks: Click on the links to learn more about specific diseases
Guinea Pigs
Physical Risks: Typically very docile, but may bite
Allergies: May develop after prolonged, repeated contact.
Zoonotic Risks: Click on the links to learn more about specific diseases
Rabbits
Physical Risks: Bites; Scratches (especially from hind feet)
Allergies: May develop after prolonged, repeated contact.
Zoonotic Risks: Click on the links to learn more about specific diseases
- Tularemia (Francisella tularensis)
- Leptospirosis
- Yersiniosis (Yersinia pseudotuberulosis)
- Ringworm (Trichophyton spp. )
- Q fever (Coxiella burnetti)
- Cryptosporidiosis
Cats
Physical Risks: Bites (can be deep wounds from canine teeth); Scratches
Allergies: May develop after prolonged, repeated contact.
Zoonotic Risks: Click on the links to learn more about specific diseases
- Rabies virus
- Cat scratch fever(Bartonella henselae)
- Campylobacteriosis
- Leptospirosis
- Salmonella spp.
- Microsporidiosis(Microsporum spp.)
- Ringworm (Trichophyton spp. )
- Cryptosporidiosis
- Giardiasis
- Toxoplasmosis(Toxoplasma gondii)
- Yersiniosis
Dogs
Physical Risks: Bites (can be deep wounds from canine teeth); Scratches; Falls (from wet floors related to kennel cleaning and from jumping dogs); Back Injuries (from lifting dogs); Hearing Loss (prolonged exposure to loud barking)
Allergies: May develop after prolonged, repeated contact.
Zoonotic Risks: Click on the links to learn more about specific diseases
- Rabies virus
- Brucellosis (Brucella canis)
- Campylobacteriosis
- Leptospirosis.
- Salmonella spp.
- Microsporidiosis(Microsporum spp.)
- Ringworm (Trichophyton spp. )
- Cryptosporidiosis
- Giardiasis.
- Yersiniosis
Swine
Physical Risks: Falls (tend to root at handlers working within their pens causing falls); Bites (uncommon, but will attempt to chew on pants and shoes); Back injuries (from lifting swine); Hearing Loss (Prolonged exposure to typical loud squeals)
Allergies: May develop after prolonged, repeated contact.
Zoonotic Risks: Click on the links to learn more about specific disease
- Influenza virus type A
- Vesicular stomatitis
- Erysipelothris rhusiopathiae
- Brucellosis (Brucella suis)
- Campylobacteriosis
- Escherichia coli
- Salmonella spp.
- Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis)
- Balantidiasis(Balantidium coli)
- Yersiniosis
- Leptospirosis
Sheep and Goats
Physical Risks: Bites; Falls/knee injuries/back injuring and crush injuries (running into handler and/or knocking them over, jumping (can jump with enough force to break a handler’s leg or high enough to strike the face), Butting as a defensive behavior from the animal); Goats are more difficult to handle than sheep.
Allergies: Allergic reactions to sheep are rare. Proteins on the hair and skin flakes of goats can cause allergic reactions Contact dermatitis can also occur when handling the wool of sheep.
Zoonotic Risks: Click on the links to learn more about specific disease
- Q fever (Coxiella burnetti)
- Listeriosis (Listeria monocytogenes)
- Rabies virus
- Brucellosis
- Anthrax
- Salmonella spp.
- Campylobacteriosis
- Giardiasis
- Cryptosporidiosis
- Escherichia coli
- Yersiniosis
- Orf (Parapox)
Cattle
Physical Risks: Bites; Crush injuries (Squeezed between the animal and a solid structure, limbs stepped on); Falls (pushed over by animal, trips, slips in wet areas from cleaning)
Allergies: Allergies can be to cattle hair, dander, urine, meat and milk. Since allergies stem from the proteins that are secreted in salvia, urine, skin glands and each breed of cattle has unique proteins. Individuals may develop allergies to only certain breeds of cattle.
Zoonotic Risks: Click on the links to learn more about specific disease
- Tuberculosis
- Rabies virus
- Tetanus (Clostridium tetani)
- Q fever (Coxiella burnetti)
- Cryptosporidiosis
- Escherichia coli
- Leptospirosis
- Brucellosis
- Yersiniosis
Non-Human Primates
Physical Risks: Bites (can be deep wounds from canine teeth); Scratches; Back injuries from lifting heavier species. Back injury, falls, and crushing injuries can occur when working with primate cages, transport boxes, and other husbandry equipment
Allergies: No known allergen risk
Zoonotic Risks: Click on the links to learn more about specific diseases
- Herpes B-virus (Cercopithecine herpesvirus)
- SIV (Simian Immunodeficiency Virus )
- Filoviruses-Marburg virus and Ebola virus
- Tuberculosis
- Shigellosis (Shigella spp.)
- Campylobacteriosis
- Yersiniosis (Yersinia spp.)
- Escherichia coli
- Strongyloidiasis(Strongyloides stercoralis)
- Whipworm (Trichuris trichiura)
- Pinworm (Enterobius vermicularis )
- Amebiasis (Entamoeba histolytica)
- Giardiasis (Giardia lamblia)
- Cryptosporidiosis (Cryptosporidium parvum)
Birds
Physical Risks: Bites, scratches
Allergies: Allergen can be found in dander, salvia, urine or feces of birds. Dander from birds when they preen or ruffle their feathers can be sent into the air where it can become into contact with skin or inhaled into the lungs. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is a lung condition with symptoms that mimic pneumonia. Symptoms develop after repeated exposure to a specific antigen found in birds. Signs of an allergic reaction after exposure to birds are rhinitis and asthma symptoms (wheezing and dry cough.) Signs and symptoms of both allergic reactions and hypersensitivity pneumonitis usually occur several hours after exposure.
Zoonotic Risks: Click on the links to learn more about specific diseases
- Poultry
- Psittacosis
- Salmonella spp.
- Campylobacteriosis
- Newcastle disease
- Avian Tuberculosis (Mycobacterium avium)
- Listeriosis (Listeria monocytogenes) Passerine (including wild-caught)
- West Nile Virus
- Psittacosis
- Salmonella spp.
- Newcastle disease
- Campylobacteriosis
- Avian Tuberculosis (Mycobacterium avium)
- Listeriosis (Listeria monocytogenes)
Amphibians
Physical Risks: Bites, Many species are capable of secreting toxic compounds from dermal glands.
Allergies: Uncommon
Zoonotic Risks: Click on the links to learn more about specific diseases
- Salmonella spp.
- Mycobacterium marinum
- Psittacosis
- Live food items may carry disease (black worms and bloodworms carry Mycobacterium)
- Water may cause infections
Fish
Physical Risks: Slips and falls from wet/slippery environment
Allergies: Oral allergy syndrome has been linked to people that have occupational contact with fish
Zoonotic Risks: Click on the links to learn more about specific diseases
- Cryptosporidiosis
- Mycobacterium marinum
- Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae
- Live food items may carry disease (black worms and bloodworms carry Mycobacterium)
- Water may cause infections
Ferrets
Physical Risks: Bites, Scratches
Allergies: Allergies may occur from exposure to the animal and it’s waste
Zoonotic Risks: Click on the links to learn more about specific diseases
Horses
Physical Risks: Bites, kicks, Back strain from handling or restraining horses due to their size and strength
Allergies: Hair and dander are sources for allergies. Proteins secreted by the oil glands in the horses’ skin as well as the proteins in animal saliva, can cause allergic reactions.
Zoonotic Risks: Click on the links to learn more about specific diseases
Reptiles
Physical Risks: Bites, Scratches
Allergies: Rare
Zoonotic Risks: Click on the links to learn more about specific diseases
- Cryptosporidiosis
- Salmonella spp.
- Live food items may carry disease (black worms and bloodworms carry Mycobacterium)
- Water for aquatic reptiles may cause infections
Chinchillas
Physical Risks: Scratches
Allergies: Hay and dust (from dust bathes) may cause allergies
Zoonotic Risks: Click on the links to learn more about specific diseases
- Ringworm (Trichophyton spp.)